The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Gombe State Command, executed a successful operation on Thursday, shutting down an illegal refinery located in the federal low-cost area of the state. The crackdown followed numerous complaints from vigilant residents regarding suspicious activities in their neighborhood.
Muhammad Muazu, the commandant of the NSCDC Gombe State Command, disclosed that the owner of the illegal refinery was apprehended in the act of producing gasoline within the Gombe metropolis. The arrest was made possible by weeks of intelligence gathering and monitoring by the security forces.
According to Muazu, community members had reported an unusual odor emanating from the area, prompting a thorough investigation. He emphasized the hazardous nature of the illegal refinery, stating, “Whatever the place is called, it is harmful to the health and environment of the area.”
Adamu, a spokesperson for the NSCDC, affirmed that the illegal operation was not only posing risks to residents, but was also an unregistered company with potential adverse effects on the environment. The state coordinator, having canceled his leave, is actively overseeing the investigation, and the director-general of the NSCDC is committed to eliminating such instances of adulteration in the state and country.
However, the Managing Director of the facility, Abubakar Aliyu, defended the refinery’s operations, claiming they were involved in pyrolysis rather than crude refining. Aliyu, 44 years old, explained that he established the facility after attending a workshop in Abuja, expressing ignorance about the necessity of obtaining registration from the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to operate.
Aliyu acknowledged the hazards associated with the operation and assured that he had taken steps to relocate the facility away from residential areas. He stated, “When I learned of the hazard, I went to buy land outside of the residential area. I didn’t know we required registration from SON, but I was about to get clearance from the Ministry of Environment.” The situation underscores the need for increased vigilance and regulatory compliance to ensure the safety and well-being of communities.
